Honda faces a massive hurdle with the reinvented 2016 Pilot. The problem: a used Pilot is an excellent alternative.

The truth is, if you want a pre-owned SUV, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better value than a decade-old Pilot. As Consumer Reports notes, if you have a $10,000 budget, a second-generation Pilot (2009-2015) Pilot has room for eight, a smooth V-6 and car-like handling.

Moreover, if you can find a two- or three-year-old Pilot coming off a lease, you’ll be looking at a nicely priced, safe and reliable family hauler with the best seats in its class and decent fuel economy. So an older, reliable, functional Pilot is a wonderful SUV.

But good luck finding a three-year-old Pilot. Truth is, Pilot buyers generally drive their rigs until the wheels fall off, 20 years down the road and a decade and a half since the last payment. Honda and its dealers, then, find it tough to pull in Pilot owners who are happy and payment-free — especially when an all-new 2016 Pilot starts at $35,490.

Okay, okay, an older Pilot is not perfect; in fact, the second-generation Pilot had many flaws: tight cabin, Hummer-like styling and a confusing array of instruments and controls. Still, you’ll find a lot of value there. If you can live with the things Honda needed to fix, go used.

But if it’s time for something new in a midsize SUV, put the third-gen 2016 Pilot on your shopping list. In the 2016 version, Honda attacked everything that was wrong with the old model. The basics – reliability and safety – haven’t changed, of course.

With one touch, passengers can climb aboard, into the third row — where space is a little tight for adults.

This latest Pilot no longer looks like a packing crate with wheels. Instead, the design is sleeker, more aerodynamic, and consistent with the CR-V and HR-V crossovers. The cabin is roomier, with more cargo space in back and seating for up to eight. The still-tight third row now has a new backlit push-button feature on the second seat that allows you to fold up everything easily without any fuss.

Honda’s designers have created a clean look and feel for the instruments and controls — far better than the dizzying array in the previous Pilot.

As should be the case with any station wagon, even one disguised as a rugged SUV, the step-in height is somewhere between sedan and truck. Once in, you’ll find lots of available features, from Blueray disc capability to a panoramic glass sunroof to a ceiling-mounted TV screen you can still have with the sunroof.

The flat load floor is a major plus.

The cabin’s controls and features are smart and functional. A huge centre console has cupholders, space for two smart phones, hidden storage space for four iPads and up to five USB ports. The touchscreen has excellent resolution and there’s a 115-volt power outlet and HDMI input.

At highway speeds this Pilot is a comfy cruiser, with a little roll in the corners, but less than many rivals. This Honda has a stonger, stiffer and lighter body and chassis, with a new suspension and better steering. The drive is effortless.

The panorama sunroof lets in a huge amount of light.

Of course there’s enough power from a thrifty V-6 (280 hp), and a very advanced all-wheel-drive system is available.

So if you’re looking for an SUV that should last two decades, here you go. No doubt you’ll be happy not to suffer any of the Hummer-design wisecracks that came standard with the second-generation Pilot, too.

Seat comfort? Excellent.

THE LOOK: The exterior is pretty and aerodynamic. Honda claims a 10 per cent reduction in wind resistance and a 20 per cent reduction in road load — a measure of all aero, mechanical drag, and friction taken by coasting from a specific speed down to 0. Yes, designers and engineers measure this stuff.

THE DRIVE: Excellent. Quiet and composed on straight stretches, nimble enough in the city and stable in corners and emergency manoeuvres. The 3.5-litre V-6 never seems to struggle for power and the available nine-speed automatic gearbox is a gem of clean shifting (six-speed auto is the base).

THE NUTS AND BOLTS: Something called “torque vectoring” uses an electronically controlled differential to transfers power front and rear and side to side in the rear. The AWD system allows you to dial up settings for Normal, Snow, Sand, Mud. The Android-based display audio is seamless for iPhone integration. The Sirius satellite system has more features than one can count. Garmin navigation has a 3D display. The remote fob with engine start with climate control has a 44 metre range. And there are outlets and plug-ins for every imaginable device. Hill start assist, rain sensing wipers, multi information display, capless refueling…

THE CABIN/STORAGE: The seats are outstanding in every way and the cabin has more room than before and is now a match for any rival. The easy-fold second-row gives way to the third row seating and behind that is more cargo room. The controls are sensible, the touchscreen has excellent resolution and the designers have accommodated all the gizmos we carry today – smartphones, iPads, the lot. Cargo space is decent and competitive, not breathtaking.

THE BRAND: You know what you’re getting with the Honda brand – safe, reliable, good re-sale values.

WHY BUYS? Upper middle class family types and empty-nesters in need of room for stuff. Upper middle? Look at the pricing. The base front-drive model starts at $35,490, and if you want AWD, the starting price is $38,490.

Price range: $35,490-$50,490

Engine: 3.5-litre V-6.

Transmission: six-speed or nine-speed automatic.

Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 12.4 city/9.3 highway for AWD with the nine-speed automatic using regular fuel.

Comparables: Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX-9, Ford Explorer, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe XL, Dodge Journey, Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Flex, Dodge Durango, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia.